Former New Democrat Bob Simpson, former Liberal John van Dongen and Vicki Huntington (pictured), who has long-standing ties to the federal...more

Former New Democrat Bob Simpson, former Liberal John van Dongen and Vicki Huntington (pictured), who has long-standing ties to the federal Conservatives, say they aren’t forming a formal coalition or a new political party.

VICTORIA — Strength in numbers is behind a decision by three Independent British Columbia MLAs to mount a joint campaign to move the province’s fixed election date and introduce democratic reforms.

But former New Democrat Bob Simpson, former Liberal John van Dongen and Vicki Huntington, who has long-standing ties to the federal Conservatives, said they aren’t forming a formal coalition or a new political party.

“Is there strength in numbers? Absolutely,” said Simpson, who was dumped from the New Democrats after writing a report critical of former leader Carole James.

Huntington, elected in 2009 as an independent in the Metro Vancouver Delta South riding, said B.C. politicians need to use the power of their independent voices on more occasions, but on some issues, numbers add weight.

“What I strongly feel is the opportunity to form a coalition on an issue is invaluable,” she said. “Yes, if you can get a group of voices speaking to the same issue, then you do have more authority out there.”

The three MLA’s said they plan to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to change B.C.’s fixed election date from the spring to the fall.

British Columbians are heading to the polls on May 14. The following election is set for the second Tuesday in May on 2017, but the independents want a fall vote in 2017.

Simpson said a fall fixed election date ensures that year’s budget is on the books and audited before politicians hit the campaign trail. He said a fall fixed election date would prevent governments from using “every fourth budget as an election platform.”

The Liberals are set to table their budget Feb. 19.

Van Dongen, who quit the Liberals last year to sit as a Conservative, but left them to sit as an Independent, said the Independents will introduce a series of legislative reforms to give politicians more independence.

He said the independents want a secret ballot vote as opposed to the current party-influenced system when it comes to electing a speaker of the legislature, a position that involves taking on the role of a referee between the parties.

The independents want more free votes in the legislature to allow politicians to vote on issues without fear of repercussions.

And they say they will propose to reform election campaign financing to include bans on corporate and union donations and permitting only B.C. residents to donate to political parties and candidates.

Simpson said the independents want to ensure political leadership races are transparent and democratic, which is why they want Elections BC and not political parties to run leadership contests.

Simpson said Opposition New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix’s leadership campaign saw bags of party memberships dropped at headquarters minutes before the sign-up-up deadline and Premier Christy Clark’s campaign signed up a cat as a supporter.

B.C.’s fourth independent MLA, former Liberal John Slater, did not attend the announcement. Slater has said he will not be running in the May election.